Martoons

Today: Thomas really just wants a cup of coffee.

Cast of characters

Thomas

Wide Eyes/Damion

Scene: Mr Go’s office at Central Institute

*

Thomas looked around and saw Wide Eyes’ head sticking out into the hall from Go’s office.

“You’ve … er … got … a package in the mail. Mr Go was kind enough to bring it up for you.”

“Great,” Thomas said, reaching for the door.

“Be right back.”

“Hold on a sec. We’d like to ask you a few questions about it.”

“Oh…kay…”

Thomas was thinking since when is my mail any of Wide Eyes’ frickin’ business?

“Tell ya what buddy, let me just get a dose of joe downstairs and I’ll be right back.”

* Will Wide Eyes let Thomas go? *

“Make it quick.”

Wide Eyes pulled his head back in the office.

What’s with that asshole? 

Thomas surmised that something was up as he descended the stairs two and three at a time.

Then again, maybe not – perhaps just another letter from the ex wanting money.

Out into the sunny bright street – fairly quiet for traffic at this time – Thomas jaunted down to the vending machine half a block away.

The selection buttons were in Korean but he’d learned to decipher ‘Milk Coffee’ – his favorite – a paper cup the size of the ones you get at the dentist to rinse your mouth out, filled halfway with Korea’s patented asphalt black coffee, heavily sweetened with way too much sugar and whitened up with way too much creamer powder.

Smiling, he popped his coins in and impatiently waited for the machine to plop the cup into the receptacle and spew down the dose.

He removed his cup from the machine and held it steady, making his way back.

He’d actually forgotten about ‘the package in the mail’ but was reminded as soon as he saw Wide Eyes waiting for him impatiently in the lobby.

“The Boss is waiting,” he said sternly.

“We’ve got business to take care of. And the clock is ticking. We’ll be on the move shortly.”

He urged Thomas toward the office.

This wasn’t rubbing the Golden God the right way.

“On the move? I just want to sit and relax for a moment or two. Or ten. I don’t really care about my frickin’ mail. What are you guys doing with my mail anyway?”

After a few reluctant steps he stopped and pulled his arm away from Wide Eyes’ hand.

He walked back and defiantly leaned up against the reception counter.

“I gotta ask the secretary something.”

He sipped his coffee but the satisfaction was markedly diminished.

“Hello, yoo hoo!” he called into the back storage room.  

She didn’t reappear.

* Why won’t she reappear? *

“This ain’t no ordinary mail delivery, boss,” Wide Eyes said, “not your usual bills or junk mail flyers. Come on in our office – we can explain everything. Don’t worry, Mr Go will take care of you.”

Wide Eyes stood there waiting.

Since when did Mr Go’s office become Wide Eyes’ too?

And I don’t recall asking Mr Go to take care of me.

He took another little sip, wanting to prolong the coffee experience – and delay whatever the hell it was that Wide Eyes was trying to force him into.

This guy was really starting to get on his nerves again; just when things were starting to go good.

Now Wide Eyes stood there like some sort of police escort.

Thomas shoed him away like a fly, his anger building.

“You go in and I’ll join you in a sec. I gotta ask the secretary if there’s a message for me. I’m expecting one and it’s urgent.”

* Is this call actually urgent? *

Wide Eyes glared at him but then heeded the request.

Thomas reflected momentarily and took comfort in the little burst of warmth transmitted from the coffee cup to his palm.

The secretary was still buried deep in the supply room.

Thomas couldn’t see her but could still hear shuffling sounds.

He had a hunch she wasn’t coming out anytime soon, and that she was somehow in on this whole herd-Thomas-into-Go’s-office thing.

“Miss, let me know right away if there’s a call or message for me from a Coffee Lady. Come into Mr Go’s office and get me. It’s urgent.”

He peered down into his coffee cup and despaired that there was only half left.

He pondered, half full or half empty?

It seemed to be a favorite saying among Koreans.

Might as well see what the hell this is all about, and he walked slowly to the office.

* How is Thomas going to react to this upcoming confrontation? *

*

Tomorrow: The accusations begin.